BOBBY® Balloon Microcatheter: Temporary Neck Remodelling for Wide-Neck Aneurysm Coiling Without DAPT
Автор: Modern Medical Solutions Editorial Team
BOBBY® from MicroVention Terumo is a compliant dual-lumen intracranial balloon microcatheter for balloon-assisted coil embolization of wide-neck aneurysms, enabling denser coil packing through temporary neck occlusion during each coil delivery without permanent stent placement and without the DAPT requirement of stent-assisted coiling.
What Is BOBBY®?
BOBBY® is a compliant balloon microcatheter from MicroVention Terumo used for balloon remodelling technique in wide-neck intracranial aneurysm coiling. Positioned across the aneurysm neck in the parent artery, the BOBBY balloon is temporarily inflated during each coil delivery to prevent coil herniation into the parent lumen, then deflated between deployments to allow blood flow resumption and coil compaction assessment.
The balloon remodelling technique allows the operator to pack coils more densely within the sac than would otherwise be safe, improving completeness of occlusion and reducing long-term recanalization risk. Because the BOBBY balloon is removed after coiling is complete, no permanent implant remains in the parent artery — no DAPT is required post-procedure, which is the critical clinical advantage over stent-assisted coiling.
BOBBY® vs. Stent-Assisted Coiling: When to Choose Each
The decision between BOBBY balloon remodelling and stent-assisted coiling (LVIS EVO) hinges primarily on antiplatelet tolerance and the need for long-term neck scaffolding. BOBBY is preferred for: ruptured aneurysms in the acute phase (DAPT contraindicated); patients with high bleeding risk or on oral anticoagulation; those requiring surgery within 6 months; and wide-neck aneurysms where temporary rather than permanent neck support is judged sufficient for stable coil retention.
Stent-assisted coiling with LVIS is preferred when the neck geometry is so wide that even dense coil packing with balloon support is unlikely to achieve stable long-term occlusion without a permanent scaffold. In these cases, the stent’s permanent neck bridging effect reduces recanalization risk over time, justifying the DAPT requirement.
Technical Specifications
BOBBY is delivered over a standard 0.014 in guidewire via the standard guide-intermediate catheter access system. The compliant balloon material adapts to a range of parent artery diameters with a single fill volume range. The microcatheter lumen remains accessible during balloon inflation for angiographic runs, consistent with the standard dual-lumen balloon catheter design shared with Scepter C and XC.
The BOBBY is compatible with 8F guide catheters and the SOFIA intermediate catheter platform, fitting within the standard triaxial workflow.
Technique Tips
Set up as a biaxial system: BOBBY in the parent artery across the neck and Headway 17 coiling microcatheter within the aneurysm sac, both run through the SOFIA intermediate catheter. Inflate BOBBY only during active coil delivery and deflate immediately after each coil is deployed to allow brief flow restoration.
Inflate to the minimum volume required to achieve visual neck bridging on fluoroscopy — over-inflation of compliant balloons in intracranial vessels risks vessel dissection or rupture. If coil herniation occurs despite balloon inflation, consider switching to stent-assisted coiling.
Ordering Through Modern Medical Solutions
Modern Medical Solutions is the authorised MicroVention Terumo distributor for Tajikistan and Afghanistan. BOBBY is available for neurointerventional programmes in Tajikistan and Afghanistan as part of the MicroVention Terumo aneurysm embolization portfolio.
Contact Modern Medical Solutions to discuss BOBBY alongside Scepter C/XC balloon microcatheters, Headway 17, and SOFIA to determine the optimal balloon remodelling setup for your program’s aneurysm morphology mix.
